The other day I made the case at NRO that the Baseball Writers' Association of America should waive the waiting period and induct Roy Halladay into Cooperstown in 2018.
You can read that article here.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
The Election of Donald Trump One Year Later
At this exact hour a year ago the polls closed in the 2016 presidential election. It would not be until the following morning that Americans learned we had elected Donald Trump to become our 45th President. Many wish we could go back to bed and wake up from this nightmare. Of course, it was going to be a nightmare as we were given the choice of two poisons and we had to pick one.
Unfortunately, we picked the poison which spread faster. We have a President who berates our friends and bends over backwards for our adversaries, implements policies such as the Muslim travel ban without bothering to let his Cabinet in on it, establishes a moral equivalence between the media and ISIS, calls white supremacists "fine people" and makes unfounded accusations of being wiretapped by former President Obama.
And where is all the winning?
No wonder New Jersey elected a Democrat Governor. No wonder Virginia elected a Democrat Governor and possibly a Democrat controlled House of Delegates. Don't be shocked if in one year's time the Democrats take control of both Houses of Congress. Trump may very well do the the Republican Party what President Obama did to the Democrats during his two terms in office.
Of course, if that is the case then there's a very good chance Trump will be re-elected in three years time. Whatever his obvious shortcomings, the man does inspire loyalty. His supporters perceive Trump is fighting for them even when it isn't clear what exactly he's fighting for. If Democrats want to break that loyalty then they have to stop treating Trump voters as the enemy and ask them if they are winning.
Unfortunately, we picked the poison which spread faster. We have a President who berates our friends and bends over backwards for our adversaries, implements policies such as the Muslim travel ban without bothering to let his Cabinet in on it, establishes a moral equivalence between the media and ISIS, calls white supremacists "fine people" and makes unfounded accusations of being wiretapped by former President Obama.
And where is all the winning?
No wonder New Jersey elected a Democrat Governor. No wonder Virginia elected a Democrat Governor and possibly a Democrat controlled House of Delegates. Don't be shocked if in one year's time the Democrats take control of both Houses of Congress. Trump may very well do the the Republican Party what President Obama did to the Democrats during his two terms in office.
Of course, if that is the case then there's a very good chance Trump will be re-elected in three years time. Whatever his obvious shortcomings, the man does inspire loyalty. His supporters perceive Trump is fighting for them even when it isn't clear what exactly he's fighting for. If Democrats want to break that loyalty then they have to stop treating Trump voters as the enemy and ask them if they are winning.
Paul Buckmaster, R.I.P.
Cellist and string arranger Paul Buckmaster has passed away at the age of 71. His cause of death is not known at this time.
Buckmaster's string arrangements appear on some of the most popular songs of the 1970's including David Bowie's "Space Oddity","Without You" by Harry Nilsson, "You're So Vain" and "Haven't Got Time For The Pain" by Carly Simon. Perhaps his most notable collaboration was with Elton John arranging four of his best selling early albums Elton John, Tumbleweed Collection, Madman Across The Water and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player.
Buckmaster also worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Shawn Phillips, Celine Dion, The Counting Crows, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Kenny Rogers, Guns 'n Roses, Taylor Swift, Goo Goo Dolls, Heart and Idina Menzel.
I leave you with Carly Simon's "Haven't Got Time For The Pain". Buckmaster's arrangements become prominent at its conclusion. R.I.P.
Buckmaster's string arrangements appear on some of the most popular songs of the 1970's including David Bowie's "Space Oddity","Without You" by Harry Nilsson, "You're So Vain" and "Haven't Got Time For The Pain" by Carly Simon. Perhaps his most notable collaboration was with Elton John arranging four of his best selling early albums Elton John, Tumbleweed Collection, Madman Across The Water and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player.
Buckmaster also worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Shawn Phillips, Celine Dion, The Counting Crows, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Kenny Rogers, Guns 'n Roses, Taylor Swift, Goo Goo Dolls, Heart and Idina Menzel.
I leave you with Carly Simon's "Haven't Got Time For The Pain". Buckmaster's arrangements become prominent at its conclusion. R.I.P.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Rick Stelmaszek, R.I.P.
As it turns out Roy Halladay wasn't the only one lost to the baseball world.
Rick Stelmaszek, who served five different managers as a bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1981 to 2012, died yesterday following a near year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69.
After an undistinguished career as a catcher with the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, California Angels and Chicago Cubs in the early 1970's, Stelmaszek joined the Twins organization as a minor league player in 1978 with the Single A Wisconsin Rapids which he would later manage until being promoted to the big league coaching staff.
His 32-year tenure as a coach is the third longest in MLB history. Only Manny Mota who served with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 33 years and Nick Altrock who served with the Washington Senators for 42 years remained with their organizations longer. Stelmaszek earned two World Series rings with the Twins in 1987 and 1991.
Nicknamed "Stelly", he threw out the first pitch at Target Field on Opening Day this past season. He would make his last public appearance during the summer when the team honored the 1987 World Series champion Twins. R.I.P.
Rick Stelmaszek, who served five different managers as a bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1981 to 2012, died yesterday following a near year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69.
After an undistinguished career as a catcher with the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, California Angels and Chicago Cubs in the early 1970's, Stelmaszek joined the Twins organization as a minor league player in 1978 with the Single A Wisconsin Rapids which he would later manage until being promoted to the big league coaching staff.
His 32-year tenure as a coach is the third longest in MLB history. Only Manny Mota who served with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 33 years and Nick Altrock who served with the Washington Senators for 42 years remained with their organizations longer. Stelmaszek earned two World Series rings with the Twins in 1987 and 1991.
Roy Halladay, R.I.P.
Moments ago, the MLB Network announced the death of former MLB pitcher Roy Halladay. His plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico this afternoon. Halladay was 40. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
Halladay pitched in bigs from 1998 through 2013 with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Nicknamed "Doc", he was a first round draft pick with the Jays in 1995 and arrived in the bigs in 1998 and in his second big league start came within an out of throwing a no-hitter. Halladay would soon struggle and after posting an ERA of 10.64 in 2000 was sent down all the way to single-A to relearn how to pitch. With the help of Mel Queen (along with Yankees legend Mariano Rivera teaching him the cutter), Halladay returned and was arguably the best pitcher in MLB during the 2000's.
Between 2002 and 2011, Halladay won two Cy Young Awards (one with the AL in 2003 and one in the NL in 2010), was in the top five in Cy Young balloting six times, was named to eight All-Star Teams (six in the AL and two in the NL), led the league in complete games six times (4 in the AL, twice in the NL) and led the league in innings pitched four times (twice each in the AL and NL).
During his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 he threw a perfect game and threw a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. When he threw that no-hitter in the NLDS he became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the post-season since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series and the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same season since Nolan Ryan in 1973.
Halladay sustained a shoulder injury in 2012 diminishing his effectiveness and retired following the 2013 season. He finished his career with a record of 203-105 with an ERA of 3.38 and struck out 2,117 batters.
On a personal note, I got to see him pitch at Fenway Park. I also remember announcing his no-hitter at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Even non-baseball fans understood the magnitude of what Halladay had done. I can't think of an opposing pitcher Red Sox fans feared and respected more than Halladay. The same is true of his teammates and his opponents.
Halladay will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. In light of today's events, I believe he will be elected on the first ballot. Whenever Halladay is inducted, it will be a shame that he won't be there to enjoy it.
But we can always enjoy that final out of that no-hitter. R.I.P.
Halladay pitched in bigs from 1998 through 2013 with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Nicknamed "Doc", he was a first round draft pick with the Jays in 1995 and arrived in the bigs in 1998 and in his second big league start came within an out of throwing a no-hitter. Halladay would soon struggle and after posting an ERA of 10.64 in 2000 was sent down all the way to single-A to relearn how to pitch. With the help of Mel Queen (along with Yankees legend Mariano Rivera teaching him the cutter), Halladay returned and was arguably the best pitcher in MLB during the 2000's.
Between 2002 and 2011, Halladay won two Cy Young Awards (one with the AL in 2003 and one in the NL in 2010), was in the top five in Cy Young balloting six times, was named to eight All-Star Teams (six in the AL and two in the NL), led the league in complete games six times (4 in the AL, twice in the NL) and led the league in innings pitched four times (twice each in the AL and NL).
During his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 he threw a perfect game and threw a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. When he threw that no-hitter in the NLDS he became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the post-season since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series and the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same season since Nolan Ryan in 1973.
Halladay sustained a shoulder injury in 2012 diminishing his effectiveness and retired following the 2013 season. He finished his career with a record of 203-105 with an ERA of 3.38 and struck out 2,117 batters.
On a personal note, I got to see him pitch at Fenway Park. I also remember announcing his no-hitter at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Even non-baseball fans understood the magnitude of what Halladay had done. I can't think of an opposing pitcher Red Sox fans feared and respected more than Halladay. The same is true of his teammates and his opponents.
Halladay will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. In light of today's events, I believe he will be elected on the first ballot. Whenever Halladay is inducted, it will be a shame that he won't be there to enjoy it.
But we can always enjoy that final out of that no-hitter. R.I.P.
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Thoughts on The Church Massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas - UPDATE
At least 27 people have been killed in a massacre at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town east of San Antonio. Among those killed was the Minister's 14-year old daughter. More than 30 people were injured. Given that there are fewer than 400 people who live in that community this is going to be a wound felt for decades to come.
When I learned about this heinous act I thought of the gun attacks on the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin which claimed six lives in August 2012 as well as the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina which claimed the lives of nine people in June 2015. Today's attack represents the worst attack on a house of worship in this country's history.
The assailant is dead, but it is not clear whether the shooter was killed by authorities or took his own life nor has he been identified as of this writing.
Naturally there are questions.
Was the assailant a stranger to the congregation as was the case in Oak Creek and at Mother Emanuel? Or was the assailant a former member of the church?
Ana Cabrera of CNN noted the attack took place on the 8th anniversary of the Fort Hood shooting. Was this an act of Islamic terrorism against infidels? We are only five days removed from the ISIS attack in New York City near the WTC.
Or was this another Las Vegas shooting where the motive might never ever be known?
Regardless of the reason we are already hearing demands for gun control even though the identity of the killer is not known much less how he obtained his weapons.
All we do is this yet another bad day in America.
UPDATE: I am watching a press conference on CNN featuring Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He indicates there are 26 fatalities. The Governor did not identify the shooter and authorities indicate he cannot be conclusively identified. According to The Daily Beast, however, the shooter is Devin Patrick Kelley, a former Air Force veteran. Twitter is speculating that Kelley is a white nationalist, a Muslim convert and a member of Antifa. At this point, none of this has been substantiated and might very well be wrong. We shall see.
When I learned about this heinous act I thought of the gun attacks on the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin which claimed six lives in August 2012 as well as the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina which claimed the lives of nine people in June 2015. Today's attack represents the worst attack on a house of worship in this country's history.
The assailant is dead, but it is not clear whether the shooter was killed by authorities or took his own life nor has he been identified as of this writing.
Naturally there are questions.
Was the assailant a stranger to the congregation as was the case in Oak Creek and at Mother Emanuel? Or was the assailant a former member of the church?
Ana Cabrera of CNN noted the attack took place on the 8th anniversary of the Fort Hood shooting. Was this an act of Islamic terrorism against infidels? We are only five days removed from the ISIS attack in New York City near the WTC.
Or was this another Las Vegas shooting where the motive might never ever be known?
Regardless of the reason we are already hearing demands for gun control even though the identity of the killer is not known much less how he obtained his weapons.
All we do is this yet another bad day in America.
UPDATE: I am watching a press conference on CNN featuring Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He indicates there are 26 fatalities. The Governor did not identify the shooter and authorities indicate he cannot be conclusively identified. According to The Daily Beast, however, the shooter is Devin Patrick Kelley, a former Air Force veteran. Twitter is speculating that Kelley is a white nationalist, a Muslim convert and a member of Antifa. At this point, none of this has been substantiated and might very well be wrong. We shall see.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Astros Win 1st World Series Title & Houston Gets a Well-Deserved Parade
The Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series to win their first ever championship since the team was established in 1962 when they were known as the Houston Colts-45s.
Unlike Games 2 & 5 in which the Astros had to comeback from repeated deficits, the Astros were in charge all the way. The Astros got to Dodgers starter Yu Darvish immediately as George Springer led off with a double and scored on a throwing error by Dodgers' first baseman Cody Bellinger. The Astros would score a second run on a RBI ground out by Jose Altuve.
The Astros continued their attack in the 2nd inning on a RBI ground out by starting pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. with a three run HR by Springer to put the nail in the coffin. It was Springer's 5th HR of the World Series and homered in four consecutive Fall Classic games. Not surprisingly Springer was named World Series MVP. It is fitting when you consider the 2014 Sports Illustrated cover story which declared the Astros would win the 2017 World Series. And who was on the cover? None other George Springer.
But even Springer couldn't top Carlos Correa who proposed marriage (and was accepted of course).
The Dodgers weren't without opportunities. Brandon Morrow, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Alex Wood kept the Astros scoreless for 7.1 IP with Kershaw pitching four of those innings. Morrow actually pitched in all 7 games becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since the late Darrold Knowles with the Oakland A's in 1973. They kept the Dodgers in the game.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers they left runners on base. Eleven to be exact. They scored their only run on a PH single by Andre Ethier who is in his 13th year in a Dodgers uniform. The Dodgers were held in bay by Charlie Morton who pitched 4.1 IP of solid relief to earn the win. Not bad for a guy who blew out his knee in his only appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies last year.
If there was ever a city that deserved a parade it is Houston. With numerous residents without a home and possessions following Hurricane Harvey, the Astros were the perfect respite for this disaster.
Dodgers fans are no doubt disappointed with the outcome with this World Series, but it was a win for baseball. With the drama surrounding both Games 2 & 5, this Fall Classic made new fans in a way no other World Series in recent memory has done even including the Chicago Cubs' triumph a year ago. There are thousands, if not millions who have a newfound appreciation for this game and will look forward to what will unfold in 2018 and beyond. As for the Dodgers there's a good chance they'll back very soon.
But for now a hearty congratulations to the Houston Astros be it their homegrown talent like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Marwin Gonzalez and to veteran newcomers Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and, of course, Justin Verlander. Keeping it all together was Astros manager A.J. Hinch winning his first World Series title as a manager. For tonight, Houston has no problem.
Unlike Games 2 & 5 in which the Astros had to comeback from repeated deficits, the Astros were in charge all the way. The Astros got to Dodgers starter Yu Darvish immediately as George Springer led off with a double and scored on a throwing error by Dodgers' first baseman Cody Bellinger. The Astros would score a second run on a RBI ground out by Jose Altuve.
The Astros continued their attack in the 2nd inning on a RBI ground out by starting pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. with a three run HR by Springer to put the nail in the coffin. It was Springer's 5th HR of the World Series and homered in four consecutive Fall Classic games. Not surprisingly Springer was named World Series MVP. It is fitting when you consider the 2014 Sports Illustrated cover story which declared the Astros would win the 2017 World Series. And who was on the cover? None other George Springer.
But even Springer couldn't top Carlos Correa who proposed marriage (and was accepted of course).
The Dodgers weren't without opportunities. Brandon Morrow, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Alex Wood kept the Astros scoreless for 7.1 IP with Kershaw pitching four of those innings. Morrow actually pitched in all 7 games becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since the late Darrold Knowles with the Oakland A's in 1973. They kept the Dodgers in the game.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers they left runners on base. Eleven to be exact. They scored their only run on a PH single by Andre Ethier who is in his 13th year in a Dodgers uniform. The Dodgers were held in bay by Charlie Morton who pitched 4.1 IP of solid relief to earn the win. Not bad for a guy who blew out his knee in his only appearance with the Philadelphia Phillies last year.
If there was ever a city that deserved a parade it is Houston. With numerous residents without a home and possessions following Hurricane Harvey, the Astros were the perfect respite for this disaster.
Dodgers fans are no doubt disappointed with the outcome with this World Series, but it was a win for baseball. With the drama surrounding both Games 2 & 5, this Fall Classic made new fans in a way no other World Series in recent memory has done even including the Chicago Cubs' triumph a year ago. There are thousands, if not millions who have a newfound appreciation for this game and will look forward to what will unfold in 2018 and beyond. As for the Dodgers there's a good chance they'll back very soon.
But for now a hearty congratulations to the Houston Astros be it their homegrown talent like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Marwin Gonzalez and to veteran newcomers Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and, of course, Justin Verlander. Keeping it all together was Astros manager A.J. Hinch winning his first World Series title as a manager. For tonight, Houston has no problem.
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